In recent years we have increasingly become interested in the concept of growth mindset. The idea has gained popularity because it’s an antidote to the notion that intelligence is fixed, unteachable, and unchangeable. Instead, people with growth mindsets believe that as long as we invest in our learning and practice skills over time, we can improve ourselves at any age.
But what happens when you apply this principle to your self-care?
A lot! In fact, the two concepts are so closely related that I believe they’re deeply entwined with each other.
Growth mindset requires unapologetic self-care.
The reason for this is simple: If you’re serious about improving yourself as a person, then you also need to invest in your self-care. In order to do so, it’s important to understand how growth mindset plays into your ability to take care of yourself.
The reason I believe that growth mindset is so closely related to self-care is because it is the same thing. But what exactly does this mean? Well, when you understand that your mind and body are capable of change—and can improve over time if they’re exposed to new skills, experiences and environments—then you also realize that self-care isn’t something that only happens in moments of extreme stress or pain. Instead, it’s an ongoing process that requires dedication and practice.
It is time to rethink self-care.
Self-care is not a luxury. It is a necessity. And it is time we start treating it as such.
Self-care is all about making sure you’re in good enough shape to handle whatever life throws at you, whether that means taking care of yourself physically or emotionally, or both.
It’s about finding a balance between work and rest so that you’re able to feel your best. It’s about making sure that you don’t get burned out and end up feeling anxious, depressed or sick. The problem is that many people think of self-care as a luxury, something they can only afford when they have the time and energy for it.
You make time for your friends, family members, and other loved ones when they need help. Shouldn’t you do the same for yourself? The answer is yes. But you can’t just go on autopilot when it comes to taking care of yourself. You have to make sure that you’re getting the right kind of self-care, and that means knowing what that is for you personally. It’s important to remember that self-care isn’t something that has a one-size-fits-all approach; no two people are exactly alike, so their needs will be different as well.
It’s about taking care of yourself so that you can go out into the world and do all the things that need doing. It’s time we start treating self-care as a necessity, not an indulgence. You deserve to be healthy, happy and productive.
Self-care is a sign of strength, not weakness.
Self-care is a sign of strength, not weakness. It’s about being able to take care of yourself and your needs. It’s not about being selfish or self-focused; it’s about knowing that if you don’t take care of yourself, there will be nothing left to give others.
Growth mindset requires unapologetic self-care because it means understanding that our bodies are not disposable items–they’re living organisms that need nourishment and rest in order to function properly. The same goes for our minds: if we don’t take time out from work every day (or even several times a week), we’ll eventually burn out or get sick from stressors like sleep deprivation and exhaustion.
Self-care is also about understanding the importance of good relationships with other people. When we’re surrounded by people who support us and understand our goals, we feel more confident and capable of taking on challenges. This can be a particularly important aspect of growth mindset as a professional – where your work demands a lot out of you.
Growth mindset is also about being kind to yourself, which means understanding that you don’t have to be perfect all the time. It’s important to acknowledge your missteps, but it’s also important not to let them get in the way of doing better next time. There will always be obstacles in life; what matters most is how we respond when faced with them. And this is a whole new level of self-love and self-care
Self-care starts with understanding what you need and acknowledging your needs without guilt or shame.
You can’t take care of others if you don’t take care of yourself first. Self-care starts with understanding what you need and acknowledging your needs without guilt or shame.
This is the foundation for a growth mindset: the belief that effort can make a difference in our lives, as opposed to believing that intelligence is fixed and immutable.
As psychologist Carol Dweck explains: “Growth mindset doesn’t mean being complacent or self-satisfied…It means believing that our skills can be developed through dedication, work, and instruction–and then putting in those efforts.”
Self-care is the same. It does not mean doing nothing, but instead means taking time to care for yourself so that you can continue caring for others. By taking care of your physical, emotional and spiritual needs first, you’ll have more energy and focus to give back to the world.
High performance requires self-care, so why not make it something that everyone does?
As a coach, I often hear from clients that they feel like they are neglecting their wellbeing. I also know that when people say this, it’s usually not because they’re not taking care of themselves; rather, it’s because the way in which they are taking care of themselves isn’t serving them well.
At a risk of sounding like a broken record, you cannot give from an empty place. So if you are not prioritizing your self-care, how are you going to foster a culture of self-care within your team?
The reason I’m asking this question is because I know that if we’re going to build a high performing team, then each member needs to be operating at their best. This means nurturing ourselves so that we can give our best contributions to the team.
This way we lead by example – surprisingly people tend to do as they see and not necessarily as they are told. When your team observes you prioritizing self-care, it creates a safe space for them to do the same knowing that they are fully supported.
Also, when we are at our best, we become alert and sensitive to others’ needs as well. We are able to pick up very quickly when a team member requires some nudging and encouragement with regards to their own self-care. When you have a team that is committed to taking care of themselves, they’re more likely to take care of the work that needs to be done as well.
This will bring about a multiplier factor – when more professionals do this and the results show (and they will); the unavoidable corporate competitiveness soon takes over and others follow suit for their own teams. Imagine the compound effect of high performing teams across your organization?
Conclusion
We are not saying that you should take care of yourself at the expense of others or your work, but we do believe that self-care is an important part of being an effective professional. It’s not only about taking care of yourself, but also about being able to notice when others need some help. If you’re a manager or leader in your organization, please be mindful of this and make sure that your team knows what self-care looks like and how important it is for their own performance. When you have a team that takes care of themselves and each other, it shows in their results.
Self-care is a skill that needs to be practiced and developed continuously to be effective.
I hope this blog has given you a new perspective on self-care and you have gained insight into how to begin practicing self-care in a way that will be most effective for you. If you are interested in learning more about how to implement a self-care practice, please don’t hesitate to reach out.